Adjusting exercise device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device includes two cranks rotatably coupled to a rear portion of a upright support and each having a pivot rod, two handles having a middle portion pivoted to a front portion of the upright support with a spindle, two foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and each having a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link, and two levers pivotally coupled to the pivot rod and the handle and spaced away from the spindle for allowing the foot supports to be moved elliptically relative to the upright support of the base. The levers may be adjustably coupled to the handles with a motorized threaded member for adjusting the moving stroke of the foot supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjusting exercise device, and moreparticularly to an elliptical exercise device including an arrangementfor allowing the exercise device to have changeable or adjustable ordifferent moving strokes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers comprise a pair ofhandles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of abase support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled tothe handles and arranged for allowing the foot supports to be stepped ormoved up and down relative to the base support device.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,211 to Stearns discloses one of thetypical exercise devices also comprising a pair of handles pivotallyattached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device,and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pairof force resisting device pivotally coupling the foot supports to theupwardly extending frame member for allowing the foot supports to bestepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.

However, normally, the middle portion of the foot supports is pivotallycoupled to the upwardly extending frame member such that the middleportion of the foot supports is pivoted relative to the base supportdevice but may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative tothe base support device, and such that the moving stroke of the typicalexercise devices may not be suitably increased. In addition, the movingstroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,956 to Habing et al. discloses a typical articulatedlower body exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports pivotallycoupled to the upwardly extending frame member of a base support devicewith a pair of vertical linkage arms, and a device for swinging thevertical linkage arms and the foot supports relative to the upwardlyextending frame member of the base support device for allowing the footsupports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the basesupport device.

However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivotedrelative to the base support device but may not be moved cyclically orin reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that themoving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitablyincreased. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercisedevices may not be changed or adjusted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,985 to Miller discloses a typical stationaryexercise device comprising a pair of guide links or handles pivotallyattached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports eachpivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupledto the handles and the foot supports with an intermediate link and acontrol link, for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative tothe base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be steppedor moved elliptically relative to the base support device.

However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivotallycoupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or inreciprocating relative to the base support device such that the movingstroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased oradjusted. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devicesmay not be changed or adjusted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,553 to Rodgers, Jr. discloses another typicalstationary exercise device also comprising a pair of handles pivotallyattached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports eachpivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupledto the foot supports with a reciprocating member for swinging thehandles and the foot supports relative to the base support device andfor allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved ellipticallyrelative to the base support device.

However, similarly, the foot supports is only pivotally coupled to thehandles, and may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative tothe base support device such that the moving stroke of the typicalexercise devices may not be suitably increased or adjusted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,760 to Lin et al. discloses a further typicalstationary exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports includinga front portion pivotally coupled to an upright support, and a pair ofhandles also pivotally attached to the upright support, and a pair ofcranks pivotally coupled to the handles for swinging the handles and thefoot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing thefoot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the basesupport device.

However, the handles are located closer to the users, and are pivotallycoupled to the upright support and may also be moved cyclically relativeto the upright support of the base support device such that the handleswill also be moved cyclically relative to the upright support and suchthat the handles may not be suitably or easily grasped and handled bythe users. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercisedevices may not be changed or adjusted.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,296 to Yu discloses a further typical steppingexercise device comprising a pair of handles pivotally coupled to anupright support with a pair of cranks, and a pair of foot supportsincluding a middle portion pivotally attached to the base support andincluding a front portion pivotally coupled to the handles.

However, the foot supports are only coupled to the upright support orthe base support such that the foot supports may only be stepped ormoved up and down relative to the base support device, but may not bestepped or moved elliptically relative to the upright support of thebase support device. In addition, the moving stroke of the typicalexercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical exercisedevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide anadjusting exercise device including an arrangement for allowing theexercise device to be adjusted to different moving strokes.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided anadjusting exercise device comprising a base including an upright supportextended upwardly from the base, a spindle disposed on the uprightsupport, two cranks rotatably coupled to the rear portion of the uprightsupport with a shaft which is spaced away from the spindle, the crankseach including a pivot rod attached to the crank and spaced away fromthe shaft, two handles including a middle portion attached to thespindle for allowing the handles to be pivotally coupled to the frontportion of the upright support with the spindle and for allowing thehandles to be pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of thebase, the handles each including a hand grip provided on an upperportion for being grasped or held by a user and each including a lowerportion, two foot supports each including a front portion pivotallycoupled to the lower portion of the handles, and each including a footpedal disposed on a rear portion for supporting the user's feet, andeach including a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod ofthe cranks with a link for allowing the middle portions of the footsupports to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support by thecranks, two levers each including a first end pivotally coupled to thepivot rod of the crank, and each including a second end adjustablycoupled to the middle portion of the handle and spaced away from thespindle for forming a changeable polygonal coupling structure togetherwith the handles and the foot supports and the links, and for allowingthe foot pedals of the foot supports to be moved with changeable andelliptical moving stroke relative to the upright support of the base,and a moving device for moving the second end of the lever along themiddle portion of the handle and toward and away from the spindle foradjusting a moving stroke of the foot pedals of the foot supports.

The second ends of the levers are each coupled to the middle portions ofthe handles respectively with a securing device. The handles eachinclude a channel formed in the middle portion of the handle forslidably engaging with the securing device. The levers each include abracket provided on the second end of the lever for supporting thesecuring device.

The moving device includes a threaded member rotatably supported in themiddle portion of the handle for engaging with the securing device andfor moving the securing device along the middle portion of the handlewhen the threaded member is rotated relative to the middle portion ofthe handle.

The moving device includes a motor attached to the middle portion of thehandle and coupled to the threaded member for rotating the threadedmember relative to the middle portion of the handle. The motor includesa reduction gearing coupled to the threaded member. The levers eachinclude a block attached to the securing device and slidably engaged inthe middle portion of the handle.

A resisting device may further be provided for resisting a rotationalmovement of the shaft and the cranks. The resisting device includes awheel rotatably attached to the rear portion of the upright support withthe shaft. The resisting device includes a rotary member rotatablyattached to the upright support with an axle and coupled to the wheel.

A follower may further be provided and attached to the axle and moved inconcert with the axle, and the follower is coupled to the wheel with acoupling device. The coupling device may be a belt or the like.

A flywheel may further be provided and rotatably attached to the uprightsupport with a pivot rod and coupled to the rotary member with acoupling device. The coupling device may also be a belt or the like.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adjusting exercise device inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the adjusting exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the adjusting exercise device asseen from the front portion of the adjusting exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the adjusting exercise device asseen from the rear portion of the adjusting exercise device;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the adjusting exercise device;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view, in which aportion of the adjusting exercise device has been cut off forillustrating the adjusting device of the adjusting exercise device;

FIG. 7 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating theoperation of the adjusting exercise device; and

FIG. 8 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6,illustrating the adjustment of the adjusting exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, an adjustingexercise device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises abase 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the base 10, aspindle 12 disposed or provided on the front portion 13 of the uprightsupport 11, a rotary member or pulley or wheel 20 rotatably attached tothe rear portion 14 of the upright support 11 with a shaft 21 which isspaced away from the spindle 12, another wheel or pulley or rotarymember 22 rotatably attached to the middle portion of the uprightsupport 11 with an axle 23, a further wheel or rotary member or pulleyor follower 24 attached or secured to the axle 23 and moved in concertwith the axle 23, and the follower 24 is coupled to the wheel 20 with acoupling device 25, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or agearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 25 for allowing thefollower 24 and the rotary member 22 to be rotated or driven by thewheel 20.

A weight or flywheel 26 may further be provided and attached to themiddle or lower portion of the upright support 11 with a pivot rod 27which is coupled to the rotary member 22 with another coupling device28, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing couplingdevice (not shown), or a belt 28 for allowing the flywheel 26 to berotated or driven by the follower 24 and the rotary member 22 that arerotated or driven by the wheel 20. The follower 24 and the rotary member22 and/or the flywheel 26 may apply a resistive force against the wheel20 and the shaft 21 for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel20 and the shaft 21. It is to be noted that the flywheel 26, thefollower 24, the rotary member 22, the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 arecoupled together to form a resistive means or device for resisting therotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21, however, the otherresistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive devices(not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown) may also beused to apply the resistive force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21.

A pair of or two cranks 30 are secured to the shaft 21 such that thecranks 30 may be rotatably coupled to the rear portion 14 of the uprightsupport 11 with the shaft 21, the cranks 30 each include a pivot rod 31provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spacedaway from or distal to the shaft 21, a pair of or two handles 40 includean upper or middle portion 41 attached or secured to the spindle 12 forallowing the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled to the front portion 13of the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing thehandles 40 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 ofthe base 10. The handles 40 each include a hand grip 42 formed orprovided on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held oroperated by the users. The handles 40 each may include a tubular member43 formed or provided in the middle portion 41 of the handles 40 and anoblong hole or channel 44 formed in the middle portion 41 or the tubularmember 43 of the handles 40 for adjusting the moving stroke of theadjusting exercise device 1.

A pair of or two foot supports 50 each include a middle portion 51pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30 with a link 52for allowing the middle portions 51 of the foot supports 50 to be movedcyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by thecranks 30, and each include a front portion 53 pivotally coupled thelower portion 45 of the handles 40 respectively for allowing the footsupports 50 and the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled or attached tothe upright support 11 of the base 10, and for allowing the footsupports 50 and the handles 40 to be moved or pivoted or swung relativeto the upright support 11 of the base 10. The foot supports 50 eachinclude a foot pedal 54 disposed or provided on the rear portion thereoffor supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the feet of theusers to step and to operate or to actuate the foot supports 50.

A pair of or two arms or levers 32 may further be provided, and eachinclude one end or first end or rear portion 33 pivotally coupled to thepivot rod 31 of the cranks 30, and each include the other end or secondend or front portion 34 selectively coupled to the middle portions 41 ofthe handles 40 respectively with a bracket 35 and/or a fastener orsecuring device 36 which is spaced away from the spindle 12, for forminga polygonal pivot coupling structure together with the handles 40 andthe foot supports 50 and the links 52. For example, the securing device36 may be selectively or adjustably coupled to the channel 44 or themiddle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40respectively with the bracket 35 and/or the securing device 36, foradjusting the distance between the spindle 12 of the upright support 11and the front portion 34 of the levers 32, and for adjusting thecoupling between the handles 40 and the cranks 30 and/or the link 52,and thus for adjusting the moving strokes of the foot supports 50.

For example, the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may be increasedwhen the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are adjusted closer to thespindle 12 of the upright support 11, and may be decreased when thefront portion 34 of the levers 32 are moved or adjusted farther awayfrom the spindle 12 of the upright support 11. The securing device 36 isslidably engaged in the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or thetubular member 43 of the handles 40 for guiding the securing device 36to move or to slide along the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 orthe tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or to move toward or awayfrom the spindle 12 of the upright support 11. As shown in FIG. 6, ablock 37 is attached to the securing device 36 and slidably engaged inthe bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40, and a moving oradjusting means or device 60 is coupled to the block 37 and/or thesecuring device 36 for moving the securing device 36 along thechannel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of thehandles 40 and/or toward or away from the spindle 12 of the uprightsupport 11.

For example, the moving or adjusting means or device 60 includes a boltor threaded member 61 rotatably supported or engaged in the bore 46 ofthe tubular member 43 or the middle portion 41 of the handles 40 andthreaded or engaged with the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 formoving the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the bore 46 ofthe tubular member 43 of the handles 40 when the threaded member 61 isrotated relative to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40, andincludes a motor 62 attached to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40and coupled to the threaded member 61 directly or indirectly via areduction gearing 63 for allowing the threaded member 61 to be driven orrotated relative to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 in order tomove the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the bore 46 of thetubular member 43 of the handles 40. A control switch (not shown) may bedisposed in either of the hand grips 42 for allowing the user to operatethe moving means or device 60 while operating the adjusting exercisedevice 1. The threaded member 61 and/or the motor 62 may thus be formedas the moving means for moving the block 37 and/or the securing device36 along the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/ortoward or away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11.

In operation, the handles 40 and the front portion 53 of the footsupports 50 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11of the base 10 with the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and themiddle portions 51 of the foot supports 50 may be moved cyclicallyrelative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, suchthat the foot pedals 54 of the foot supports 50 may be movedelliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. It is tobe noted that the provision and the coupling of the levers 32 betweenthe handles 40 and the cranks 30 and/or the link 52 may form a polygonalpivot coupling structure together with the handles 40 and the footsupports 50 and the links 52 for allowing the swinging stroke of thehandles 40 to be controlled or determined by the rotational movement ofthe cranks 30, and also for allowing the moving stroke of the footsupports 50 to be controlled or determined by the rotational movement ofthe cranks 30.

The provision and the coupling of the wheel 20, and the rotary member22, and the follower 24, and the flywheel 26 may be formed or acted as aresisting means or device for applying a resistive force or a retardingforce against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and thus the cranks 30 andthe link 52 and the foot supports 50 and the levers 32 and the handles40, and thus for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 andthe shaft 21 and the cranks 30 and also for resisting the swingingmovement of the link 52 and the handles 40. A magnetic retarding device(not shown) may further be provided and coupled to the wheel 20 and/orthe rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26 forfurther applying a resistive force against the wheel 20 and/or therotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26 and forfurther resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles40.

In addition, when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are adjustedcloser to the spindle 12 of the upright support 11 with the moving meansor device 60, the swinging stroke of the handles 40 may be increased bythe rotational movement of the cranks 30, and the moving stroke of thefoot supports 50 may also be increased. On the contrary, when the frontportion 34 of the levers 32 are moved or adjusted farther away from thespindle 12 of the upright support 11, the swinging stroke of the handles40 may be decreased by the rotational movement of the cranks 30, and themoving stroke of the foot supports 50 may also be decreased. It isfurther to be noted that the front portion 34 of the levers 32 may alsobe solidly and pivotally coupled to the middle portions 41 of thehandles 40 with the securing device 36 at the predetermined positionwithout being moved or adjusted relative to the middle portions 41 ofthe handles 40 for such as marketing purposes, or manually adjustedrelative to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 in which the fixedmode and the manual mode have been filed in the co-pending US patentapplications.

Accordingly, the exercise device in accordance with the presentinvention includes an arrangement for allowing the exercise device tohave an increased moving stroke, and/or for allowing the exercise deviceto be adjusted to different moving strokes.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

1. An exercise device comprising: a base including an upright supportextended upwardly from said base, said upright support including a frontportion and a rear portion, a spindle disposed on said front portion ofsaid upright support, two cranks rotatably coupled to said rear portionof said upright support with a shaft which is spaced away from saidspindle, and said spindle is located in front of said shaft and saidcranks, said cranks each including a pivot rod attached to said crankand spaced away from said shaft, two handles including a middle portionattached to said spindle for allowing said handles to be pivotallycoupled to said front portion of said upright support with said spindleand for allowing said handles to be pivoted and swung relative to saidupright support of said base, said handles each including a hand gripprovided on an upper portion for being grasped or held by a user andeach including a lower portion, two foot supports each including a frontportion pivotally coupled to said lower portion of said handles, andeach including a foot pedal disposed on a rear portion for supportingsaid user's feet, and each including a middle portion pivotally coupledto said pivot rod of said cranks with a link for allowing said middleportions of said foot supports to be moved cyclically relative to saidupright support by said cranks, two levers each including a first endpivotally coupled to said pivot rod of said crank, and each including asecond end adjustably coupled to said middle portion of said handle andspaced away from said spindle for forming a changeable polygonalcoupling structure together with said handles and said foot supports andsaid links, and for allowing said foot pedals of said foot supports tobe moved with changeable and elliptical moving stroke relative to saidupright support of said base, and means for moving said second end ofsaid lever along said middle portion of said handle and toward and awayfrom said spindle for adjusting a moving stroke of said foot pedals ofsaid foot supports.
 2. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said second ends of said levers are each coupled to said middleportions of said handles respectively with a securing device.
 3. Theexercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handles each includea channel formed in said middle portion of said handle for slidablyengaging with said securing device.
 4. The exercise device as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said levers each include a bracket provided on saidsecond end of said lever for supporting said securing device.
 5. Theexercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said moving meansincludes a threaded member rotatably supported in said middle portion ofsaid handle for engaging with said securing device and for moving saidsecuring device along said middle portion of said handle when saidthreaded member is rotated relative to said middle portion of saidhandle.
 6. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidmoving means includes a motor attached to said middle portion of saidhandle and coupled to said threaded member for rotating said threadedmember relative to said middle portion of said handle.
 7. The exercisedevice as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor includes a reductiongearing coupled to said threaded member.
 8. The exercise device asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said levers each include a block attached tosaid securing device and slidably engaged in said middle portion of saidhandle.
 9. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingmeans for resisting a rotational movement of said shaft and said cranks.10. The exercise device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said resistingmeans includes a wheel rotatably attached to said rear portion of saidupright support with said shaft.
 11. The exercise device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein said resisting means includes a rotary memberrotatably attached to said upright support with an axle and coupled tosaid wheel.
 12. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein afollower is attached to said axle and moved in concert with said axle,and said follower is coupled to said wheel with a coupling device. 13.The exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coupling deviceis a belt.
 14. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein aflywheel is rotatably attached to said upright support with a pivot rodand coupled to said rotary member with a coupling device.
 15. Theexercise device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said coupling device isa belt.